Hand bob sled



T. F. CREW HAND BOB SLED Nov. 20, 1956 Filed NOV, 10

INVENTOR. 1: 00w;

1|| w l I If United States Patent 2,771,298 HAND BOB SLED Theodore Francis Crew, Baltimore, Md.

Application November 10, 1953, Serial No. 391,319

1 Claim. (Cl. 280-16) This invention applies to devices used in winter sports commonly called hand bob sleds, consisting generally of a pair of sleds arranged in spaced longitudinal alignment and connected by a top board for supporting and carrying passengers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a bob sled of this character wherein the spaced supporting sleds are of identical construction and may be interchangeably used, and which may, if desired, be disconnected entirely from the top supporting board and used as individual sleds.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bob sled with the spaced supporting sleds connecting the top board in such manner that steering may be carried out with either or both of the said supporting sleds.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hand bob sled wherein improved means are provided for maintaining the rear bob sled in proper longitudinal alignment under normal conditions with the forward sled so that proper tracking may be accomplished.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel swivel connection means between the sleds and the supporting top board to permit of the bob sled accommodating itself to irregularities or unevenness in the snow or ice over which it travels without disturbing or having a tendency to upset its passengers.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hand bob sled constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view showing the specific construction of the swivel connection between the sled and the overlying support board.

In the drawings, the front and rear supporting sleds are represented generally at F and R, respectively. These sleds are of identical construction and may for that reason be interchangeably employed as desired. Each of these sleds comprises spaced parallel runners 4 connected by the end pieces 5 to the top portion 6 which may be spaced any desired distance above the runners. If desired, these runners may be of metal and integral with spaced connecting knees 7 for reenforcement purposes. Each pair of runners is connected by a top plate 8 by any suitable means and if desired cross struts (not shown) may be employed to generally reenforce the entire sled structure. Each sled has secured to its forward end a transversely disposed steering arm 9 as shown, the said arms extending a substantial distance at their ends beyond the runners.

Each top plate 8 is provided intermediate its ends and in the longitudinal center thereof with a depression See or cut-out portion, in which is seated a metallic socket member indicated at 10. The socket members are provided in rectangular plates 11 which lie flat upon the upper surface of the plate 8 and are secured rigidly thereto by the bolts 12.

The top board for the hand bob sled is indicated at 13 and may be of any desired or reasonable length. This board is connected at its front and rear ends respectively, with the spaced sleds F and R, and to this end its underside is provided with a metallic stud member 14 complementary to the socket members 10 in the top plates 8 of the sleds. The stud members 14 are depressed from rectangular plates 15 bolted as at 16 securely to the undersurface of the top board 13 in the longitudinal center of the latter and inwardly from its forward and rear ends.

The complementary stud and socket portions 14-10 are provided centrally thereof with aligned openings which receive a connecting bolt 17, each of which projects below the top plate 8 and is encircled by a coil spring 18 maintained in compressing relationship by the head member or nut 19. It is obvious that by adjusting the bolt in the usual manner, the degree of compression of the spring 18 may be varied. The bolt 17 of each sled acts as a pivot to permit of rotary or oscillatory movement of the sled with respect to the top board 13.

To maintain the rear sled R in normal tracking relationship to the forward sled F, a rod 20 provided at one end with a hook 21 is engaged with an eye 22 midway the ends of the cross handle 9 of the rear sled.

, This rod extends forwardly beneath the top board 13 and passes loosely through an opening in a cleat 23 depending from the lower surface of the top board 13 and in the longitudinal center thereof. This rod is provided at its forward end with a threaded nut 24 against which engages one end of an expansion spring 25 encircling the rod and bearing at its opposite end against the cleat 13. By adjusting the nut 24 it is apparent that the tension of spring 25 may be accurately governed. By locating this connecting rod in the longitudinal center of the bob sled structure, it is apparent that the trailer sled R will normally track with the steering sled but that lateral movements to a certain degree are permitted in making turns, after which the spring 25 will cause the rear sled R to properly track with the guide or forward sled F.

From this construction, it is obvious that I have provided a hand bob sled of extremely simple construction but which will prove highly effective in operation. The steering operation may be carried out either with the feet or hands from the guide bar 9 of the forward sled, or steering may also be carried out by either feet or hands on the trailer sled R. The particular swivel connection between the top board and each of the underlying supporting sleds permits of rocking movements of the supporting sleds without materially disturbing the true horizontal position of the overlying supporting board 13. Should it be desired to utilize the sleds individually, it is but a simple matter to remove the bolts 17, and the sleds F and R may be used in the well known manner as ordinary hand sleds.

I claim:

In a bob sled structure, a pair of sleds of identical construction, comprising spaced parallel runners, a top plate connecting said runners, a top board having its ends disposed one over each of said sleds, stud and socket members connecting the said board ends with the underlying sleds, a rod disposed beneath said top board paralleling the longitudinal center thereof and between said sleds, a connection between the rear end of said rod and the forward end of the rearmost of said sleds, a cleat member having an opening therein secured forwardly of said rearmost sled in the longitudinal center of the undersurface of said top board and loosely receiving 2 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 512,123 Rogers Jan. 2, 1894 4 r Ferris July 19,1904 Minish Jan. 28, 1913 Himebaugh Aug. 15, 1916 Sherwood Jan. 16, 1917 Vogel Apr. 8, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Feb. 5, 1907 

